Goals for a successful two year presidential term

As I write this, I'm just eight weeks into my term as president of ASM, which is just enough time to discover how much there is to learn about leading a dynamic association like ASM. There is more to it than you might think, in terms of meetings, agendas, speeches and writing assignments - not to mention, setting goals, and getting things done. It's an exciting process, however - and it gives me great pride to serve in this position, at the helm of the state's pre-eminent subcontractor association. There may be many construction associations in the state, but there is none like ASM, representing subcontractors across the state, in every trade, both union and non-union. We have come a long way under the leadership of our prior presidents, all of whom remain active today - Steve Kenney, Scott Packard, Sara Stafford and Dave Cannistraro. There are many big shoes to fill. As president, I want to strengthen our core services - focusing in particular on education, information and business resources - knowing that knowledge is power, and the key to business success. We will work toward that goal in many ways, but primarily through our news publications, both in print and online, and through our educational programming. Already we are off to a great start, with articles and programs that cover a gamut of business issues critical to subcontractors, including additional insured endorsements, tax planning for 2014, non-compete agreements, public bidding procedures, and contract negotiation - not to mention a repeat of our ever-popular GC Showcase . The diverse range of topics is just a taste of things to come throughout the year. My goal is not only to promote the business success of our members, but to strengthen the presence of ASM, so it is recognized even further by the legislature, the business community, and the construction industry. Given the importance of the construction industry to the state's economy, and the critical role that subcontractors play, there's no reason why that can't happen. I'm excited to get started, and invite you to join with me in making things happen at ASM over the next 21 months. Richard Fisher is the president of Associated Subcontractors of Mass., Boston